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But bad, refumptuous! charge not Heav'n's
With ech naftice, fuch partiality.

[decree

Yet tre it is, furvey we life around,
es of ills on ev'ry fide are found;
awound not here and there by chance a foe,
the fpecies meditate the blow.

ons perifh by each other's hands
sferte rage! or by the dread commands
wats anguish out their lives in chains,
Cee them in variety of pains!
Waters pinch'd by want and hunger die,
Nature's liberality!

more num'rous, I to name difdain, Prétes and intemperance juftly flain) umbers guiltless of their own disease, 'd by fudden death, or waste by flow Čegrees!

Where then is Virtue's well-deferv'd reward? pay to Virtue ev'ry due regard;

enables man, let us confefs, artnote evils which fhe can't redress, are and confcious peace, and can affuage cus tempefts both of luft and rage; a guard fo far from being fure, ber friends peculiar ills endure: Where prevails feverest is their fate,

fue them with a three-fold hate: truggling in their country's caufe, their country meriting applause, fin by wretches fond to be enflav'd, And it'd by the hands themfelves had fav'd! superior worth appears in view, izes and fools united to pursue! to form'd they all confpire to blame, y's pois nous tooth attacks his fame:

length, fo truly good and great, Pred rule with honeft views the ftate, The toil for an ungrateful race,

lamour, libels, and disgrace, Tt, oppos'd, defeated in his ends, editious, and afpiring friends.

, and tremble! all who would be great, ikaw not what attends that dang'rous wretched ftate.

We fay not that thefe ills from Virtue flow;
Did her wife precepts rule the world, we know
The golden ages would again begin;
But 'tis our lot in this to fuffer, and to fin.

Obferving this, fome fages have decreed,
That all things from two caufes muft proceed;
Two principles with equal pow'r endu'd,
This wholly evil, that fupremely good.
From this arife the miferies we endure,
Whilft that adminifters a friendly cure;
Hence life is chequer'd ftill with blifs and woe,
Hence tares withgolden crops promifcuousgrow,
And pois'nous ferpents make their dread repofe
Beneath the covert of the fragrant role.

Can fuch a fyftem fatisfy the mind?
Are both thefe gods in equal pow'r conjoin'd,
Or one fuperior? Equal if you fay.
Chaos returns, fince neither will obey:
Is one fuperior? good or ili muft reign,
Eternal joy or everlafting pain:
Whiche'er is conquer'd muft entirely yield,
And the victorious god enjoy the field:
Hence with thefe fictions of the Magi's brain!
Hence oozy Nile, with all her monstrous train!

Or comes the Stoic nearer to the right?
He holds, that whatfoever yields delight,
Wealth, fame, externals all, are ufelefs things;
Himfelf half-ftarving happier far than kings.
'Tis fine indeed to be fo wond'rous wife!
By the fame reasoning too he pain denies;
Roaft him, or flay him, break him on the wheel,
Retract he will not, tho' he can 't but feel:
Pain's not an ill, he utters with a groan;
What then? An inconvenience 'tis, he 'll own:
What vigour, health, and beauty? are these good?
No; they may be accepted, not purfued:
Abfurd to fquabble thus about a name, [fame.
Quibbling with diff'rent words that mean the
Stoic, were you not fram'd of flesh and blood,
You might be bleft without external good;
But know, be felf-fufficient as you can,
You are not fpirit quite, but frail and mortal maa.
But fince thefe fages, fo abfurdly wife,
Vainly pretend enjoyments to defpife,
Because externals, and in Fortune's pow'r,
Now mine, now thine, the bleflings of an hours
Why value, then, thatftrength of mindthey boaft.
As often varying, and as quickly loft?
A head-ach hurts it, or a rainy day,
And a flow fever wipes it quite away.
See one whofe councils, one + whofe conqu❜ring
Once fav'd Britannia's almoft finking land,
Examples of the mind's extenfive pow'r;
Examples too how quickly fades that flow`r.
Him let me add, whom late we saw excel
In each politer kind of writing well;
Whether he ftrove our follies to expose
In eafy verfe, or droll and hum'rous profe;
Few years, alas! compel his throne to quit
This mighty monarch o'er the realms of wit;
See felf-furviving he 's an idiot grown!
A melancholy proof our parts are not our own.
+ Duke of Marlborough.
Dean Swift.

vate life from all these evils free? dal kinds, rage, envy, there we fee, S that Friendship's mask infidions wears, and feuds, and law's entangling fhares. ethere are pleasures ftill in human life, see, a tender loving wife, [gage, whofe dawning fmiles your heart en pace and comfort of foft-ftealing age: piness exifts, 'tis furely here;

tele joys exempt from care and fear? de miferies of that ftate declare, dif'rent paffions draw the wedded pair? bow hard thofe paffions to difcern, die's caft, and 'tis too late to learn? can infure, that what is right, and good, caudren thall purfue? or if they fhould, comes when leaft you fear fo black a day, your blooming hopes are hatch'd away.

* Lord Somers.

[hand

Thy

Thy tenets, Stoic, yet we may forgive,
If in a tuture ftate we ceafe to live.
For here the virtuous foler much, 'tis plain;
If pain is evil, this muit God arraign;
And on this principle conter, we must,
Pain can no evil be, or God must be unjust.
Blind man whofe reafon fuch strait bounds

contine,

t;

That ere it touches Truth's extremeft line,
It flops amaz'd, and quits the great defign.
Own you not, Stoic, God is just and true?
Dare to proceed; fecure this path pursue:
Twill foon conduct you far beyond the tomb,
To future juttice, and a life to come.
This path, you fay, is hid in endless night
'Tis felf-conceit alone obftructs your fight;
You ftop ere half your destin'd courfe is run,
And triumph when the conqueft is not won:
By this the Sophifts were of old mified; [bred
See what a monftrous race from one mistake is
Hear then my argument:-Confefs we muft,
A God there is, fupremely wife and just:
If fo, however things affect our fight,
As fings our bard, whatever is, is right.
But is it right, what here so oft appears,
That Vice fhould triumph, Virtue fink in tears
The inference then that clofes this debate,
Is, that there must exilt a future ftate.
The wife, extending their enquiries wide,
See how both states are by connection ty'd;
Fools view but part, and not the whole furvey,
So crowd existence all into a day.
Hence are they led to hope, but hope in vain,
That Justice never will refume her reign;
On this vain hope adulterers, thieves rely,
And to this altar vile afaffins fly.

"But rules not God by general laws divine:
Man's vice or virtue change not the defign:"
What laws are these? Inftruct us if you can:-
There's one deign'd for brutes, and one for man,
Another guides inactive matter's course,
Attracting, and attracted by its force:
Hence mutual gravity fubfifis between
Far diftant worlds, and ties the vast machine.
The laws of life, why need I call to mind,
Ohey'd by birds and beatts of ev'ry kind;
By all the fandy defert's favage brood,
And all the num'rous offspring of the flood?
Of thefe, none uncontroul'd and lawless rove,
But to fome deftin'd end fpontaneous move;
Led by that instinct Heav'n itself inspires,
Or fo much reafon as their state requires:
See all with skill acquire their daily food,
All ufe thofe arms, which nature has beflow'd;
Produce their tender progeny, and feed
With care parental, whilft that care they need;
In thefe lov'd ofices completely bleft,
No hopes beyond them, nor vain fears moleft.
Man o'er a wider fuld extends his views;
God thro' the wonders of his works pures;
Exploring thence his attributes, and laws,
Adores, loves, imitates th' Eternal Caufe;
For fure in nothing we approach so nigh
The great example of Divinity,

As in benevolence: the patriot's foul
Knows not felf-centred for itself to roll;
But warms, enlightens, animates the who
Its mighty orb embraces firit his friends,
His country next, then man; nor here it e
But to the meaneft animal defcends.

Wife Nature has this focial law confirm
By forming man fo helpless, and unarmo
His want of others' aid, and pow'r of ipes
T' implore that aid, this leffon daily teach
Mankind with other animals compare,
Single, how weak and impotent they are!
But view them in the complicated state,
Their pow'rs how wond'rous, and their ftre
how great,

When focial virtue individuals joins,
And in one folid mafs, like gravity, combi
This then 's the firtt great law by Nature gi
Scamp'd on our fouls, and ratify'd by He
All from utility this law approve,
Asev'ry private blifs muft fpring from focial

Why deviate then fo many from this law
Sce pailions, custom, vice and folly draw!
Survey the rolling globe from Eait to We
How few, alas! how very few are biest!
Beneath the frozen Polcs, and burning Lir
What poverty and indolence combine
To cloud with Error's miits the human min
No trace of man, but in the form we find.

And are we free from error and diftrets, it
Whom Heav'n with clearer light has pleas
Whom true Religion leads? (for the but k
By foft perfuafion, not by force proceeds;,
Behold how we avoid this radiant fun,
This proffer'd guide how obftinately fhun,
And after Sophitry's vain fyitems run!
For thefe as for eflentials we engage
In wars and maffacres with holy rage;
Brothers by brothers' impious hands are fi
Miftaken Zeal, how favage is thy reign!

Unpunish'd vices here fo much abound,
All right and wrong, all order they confou
Thefe are the giants who the gods defy,
And mountains heap on mountains to the f
Sees this th' Almighty Judge, or feeing
And deems the crimes of Man beneath his c
He fees; and will at laft rewards bestow,
And punishments, not lefs affur'd for being "

Nor doubt I, tho' this flate confus'd appe
That ev'n in this God fometimes interferes
Sometimes,left manfhould quite hispow'rdik
He makes that pow'r to trembling nationskac
But rarely this; not for each vulgar end,
As Superftition's idle tales pretend,
Who thinks all foes to God who are her own,
Directs his thunder, and ufurps his throne,

Nor know I not how much a confcio min
Avails to punish, or reward mankind;
Fyn in this life thou, impique wretch, muft
The Fury's fcourges, e th infernal wheel;
From man's tribung tho' thou hop'it to run,
Thyfelf thou canfinct, nor thy confciences
What my thou fufter when cach dire d..
The progeny of Vice, thy fabric kize!

Confampt

Confumptim, fever, and the racking pain

Var life new tortures can alone fupply,
the hope thou'lt hate, yet dread to die.
lucha wretch to num'rous years arrive,
e little worth his while to live:
ours, no regards his age attend,
cicas ay, he ne'er could have a friend;
ers leave him, and with wild affright
hes within, and shudders at the fight:
Whening Death uplifts his pointed dart,
Wazimpatience he applies to art,
Long amidit difeafe and pains!

Nor fear that he who fits fo loofe to life,

msad gout, and ftone, a frightful train! Should too much fhun its labours and its ftrife;
And fcorning wealth, contented to be mean,
Shrink from the duties of this bustling fcene;
Or, when his country's fafety claims his aid,
Avoid the fight, inglorious and afraid :
Who fcorns life moft muft furely be oft brave,
And he who pow'r contemns, be leaft a slave:
Virtue will lead him to Ambition's ends,
And prompt him to defend his country and his
But still his merit you cannot regard, [friends.
Who thus purfues a pofthumous reward;
His foul, you cry, is uncorrupt and great,
Who quite uninfluenc'd by a future ftate,
Embraces Virtue from a nobler fente
Of her abstracted, native excellence.
From the felf-conscious joy her effence brings,
The beauty, fitnefs, harmony of things.
It may be fo: yet he deferves applauíe,
Who follows where inftructive Nature draws;
Aims at rewards by her indulgence giv'n,
And foars triumphant on her wings to heav'n.

if after it no fenfe remains?

d he choose these miferies to endure, could grant an everlasting cure? te's fomething whifpers in his ear, he'd hide it) he has much to fear. reverie: how happy thofe we find,

by merit to engage mankind! dych tongue, by ev'ry heart belov'd, tarties practis`d, and for arts improv`d: my afpects thine with fmile ferene, peace and happiness within:

is ne'er difturb'd by fears or ftrife, or wine, impair the fprings of life. iune cannot fink, nor much elate, Warews extend beyond this mortal state, By age when fummon'd to refign his breath, Cferene, he fees approaching death, the fe port, the peaceful filent fhore, We may reft, life's tedious voyage o'er: d be only, is of death afraid, Town confcience has a coward made; who Virtue's radiant courfe has run, De a ferenely-setting fun,

triumphant Heav'n alone employs, Anticipates his future joys. Sleft th'illuftrious Hough we find, ze dwells with pleasure on my mind, re's glory, Freedom's conflant friend, which afk'd a champion to defend; Water near a hundred virtuous years, 5s perfect, free from pains and fears, te with life, with honours, and with age, applauded actor left the stage: ke tome victor in th' Olympic games, having run his courfe, the crown of glory

claims.

this juft contraft plainly it appears, cience can inspire both hopes and fears: As whence proceed these hopes, or whence this

dread,

thing really can affect the dead? things join to promise, and prefage De fare arrival of a future age! teer their lot is here the good and wife Ser doat on life, nor peevishly defpife. abet man, when Fortune's ftorms begin, contolation always fure within; And if the fends a more propitious gale, kes pleas'd, but not forgetful it may fail.

Say what this venal virtuous man purfues;
No mean rewards, no mercenary views;
Not wealth ufurious, or a num'rous train,
Not fame by fraud acquir'd, or title vain!
He follows but where Nature points the road,
Rifing in virtue's fchool, till he afcends to God.

But we, th' inglorious common herd of Man,
Sail without compafs, toil without a plan;
In Fortunes varying ftorms for ever toft,
Shadows purfue, that in purfuit are loft,
Mere infants all till life's extremeft day,
Scrambling for toys, then toting them away.
Who refts of Immortality allur d
Is fafe, whatever ills are here endur'd:
He hopes not vainly in a world like this,
To meet with pure uninterrupted bliss;
For good and ill in this imperfect frate,
Are ever mix'd by the decrees of fate,
With Wifdom's richest harvest Folly grows,
And baleful hemlock mingles with the rofe;
All things are blended, changeable, and vain,
No hope, no with, we perfectly obtain;
God may perhaps (might human Reason's line
Pretend to fathom infinite defign)
Have thus ordain'd things, that the restless mind
No happiness complete on earth may find;
And, by this friendly chaftifement made wife,
To heav'n her fafeft beft retreat may rise.

Come then, fince now in fafety we have pafs'd
Thro' Error's rocks, and fee the port at last;

Let us review and recollect the whole.-
Thus ftands my argument. The thinking foul
Cannot terreftrial or material be,
But claims by Nature Immortality;
God, who created it can make it end,
We queftion not, but cannot apprehend
He will; because it is by him endued
With ftrong ideas of all perfect Good;
With wond'rous pow'rs to know and calculate
Things too remote from this our earthly state;
Bishop of Worcester.

205

With fure prefages of a life to come;
All falfe and ufelefs, if beyond the tomb
Our beings cease: we therefore can't believe
God either acts in vain or can deceive.

If ev'ry rule of equity demands,
That Vice and Virtuefrom the Almighty's hands
Should due rewards and punishments receive,
And this by no means happens whilft we live;
It follows, that a time mult furely come,
When each fhall meet their well-adjusted doom:
Then thall this fcene which now to human fight
Seems fo unworthy Wifdom infinite,

Bo

Á fyftem of confummate fkill appear,
Andev'ry cloud difpers'd, be beautiful an
Doubt we of this? What folid proof re
That o'er the world a wife Difpofer reign
Whilst all creation fpeaks a pow'r diving
Is it deficient in the main defign?
Not fo: the day fhall come, (pretend not
But) after death fhall come th' importan
Prefumptuous to enquire or when, or h
When God to all his juftice thall difplay
Each action with impartial eyes regard,
And in a juft proportion punish and rew

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ELEGANT EXTRACTS.

POETICAL.

BOOK THE SECOND.

DIDACTIC, DESCRIPTIVE, NARRATIVE,

AND PATHETIC.

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travell'd, fondly turns to thee: bother turns, with ceafelefs pain, At each remove, a length'ning chain. Ebelings crown my earliest friend,

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his dwelling guardian faints attend e that fpot where cheerful guests retire, atron toil, and trim their evening fire; tatabode where want and pain repair, tranger finds a ready chair: dehoffcafts, with fimpleplentycrown'd, the ruddy family around the lefts or pranks that never fail, with pity at fome mournful tale;

the bathful ftranger to his food,

the luxury of doing good! me, not deftin'd fuch delights to fhare, e of life in wand'ring fpent, and care: 2.4, with steps unceafing to purfue ting good that mocks me with the view; ke the circle bounding earth and fkies, from far, yet as I follow flies; tune leads to traverfe realms alone, And no ipot of all the world my own. faw, where Alpine folitudes afcend, e down a pentive hour to spend; 3cdon high, above the storm's career, Laskownward where an hundred realmsappear;

Lakes, forefts, cities, plains, extending wide,
The pomp of kings, the fhepherd'shumblerpride.

When thus Creation'scharmsaroundcombine,
Amidft the store, fhould thanklefs pride repine?
Say, fhould the philofophic mind difdain [vain?
That good which makes each humbler bofom
Let fchool-taught pride diffemble all it can,
Thefe little things are great to little man;
And wifer he, whofe fympathetic mind
Exults in all the good of all mankind. [crown'd;
Ye glitt ring towns, with wealth and splendour
Ye fields, where fummer fpreads profufion round;
Ye lakes, whofe veffels catch the bufy gale;
Ye bending fwains, that dress the flow`ry vale;
For me your tributary ftores combine:
Caeation's heir, the world, the world is mine!

As fome lone mifer vifiting his ftore,
Bends at his treafure, counts, recounts it o'er;
Hoards after hoards his ring raptures fill,
Yet ftill he fighs, for hoards are wanting ftill:
Thus to my breaft alternate paffions rife, [plies;
Pleas'd with each good that Heaven to man fup-
Yet oft a figh prevails, and forrows fall,
To fee the hoard of human blits fo fmall;
And oft I wish, amidst the scene, to find
Some fpot to real happinefs confign'd,
Where my worn foul,each wand'ring hope atreft,
May gather blifs to fee my fellows bleft.

But where to find that happieft fpot below,
Who can direct, when all pretend to know;
The fhudd'ring tenant of the frigid zone
Boldly proclaims that happieft fpot his own;
Extols the treafures of his ftormy feas,
And his long nights of revelry and cafe:
The naked negro, panting at the line,
Boafts of his golden fands and palmy wine;
Bafks in the glare, or items the tepid wave,
And thanks his gods for all the good they gave.

Such

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